Teen Charged In Bridgeport Stabbing Death

Ricardo Vasquez, 18, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Carlos Cartagena on Oct. 23, 2011. (Credit: Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO (CBS) — An 18-year-old man was ordered held on $500,000 bond on Tuesday, charged with stabbing another man to death during a street brawl in Bridgeport on Sunday.

Ricardo Vasquez, of the 900 block of West 36th Street, was charged with one count of first-degree murder on Tuesday. Bond was set at $500,000 at a hearing before Judge Jackie Portman Tuesday afternoon, according to Cook County State’s Atorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.

Vasquez is accused of stabbing Carlos Cartagena, 23, several times during a brawl at about 6 a.m. on Sunday in the 1000 block of West 34th Street, according to police.

What began as a verbal disturbance, apparently over a girl, escalated into a physical fight, police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.

Cartagena was pronounced dead on the scene at 1050 W. 34th Pl. at 6:46 a.m. Sunday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy determined he died of a stab wound to the neck and multiple cutting wounds.

Police said Vasquez was positively identified as the person who stabbed Cartagena several times.